Swirled Cinnamon Roll Cake (Printable)

Soft buttery cake swirled with cinnamon-sugar ribbons and silky vanilla glaze, ready in under an hour.

# What You Need:

→ Cake Components

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1 tablespoon baking powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Cinnamon Swirl Filling

09 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
10 - 1 cup brown sugar, packed
11 - 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
12 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

→ Vanilla Glaze

13 - 1 cup powdered sugar
14 - 2-3 tablespoons milk
15 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, granulated sugar, softened butter, milk, eggs, baking powder, salt, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until completely smooth and creamy, about 2-3 minutes. Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, spreading to corners.
03 - In a separate medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and flour until a thick, spreadable paste forms. The mixture should have a consistency similar to cookie dough.
04 - Drop spoonfuls of the cinnamon mixture randomly over the surface of the cake batter. Using a butter knife or skewer, gently swirl through the batter in a figure-8 or circular motion to create a marbled ribbon effect. Be careful not to over-mix.
05 - Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake for 32-38 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean with moist crumbs. The top should be golden brown and spring back when lightly touched.
06 - While the cake bakes, whisk together powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth and pourable. Add additional milk 1 teaspoon at a time if needed to reach desired consistency.
07 - Remove the cake from the oven and let cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes. Drizzle the vanilla glaze evenly over the warm cake using a spoon or whisk. Slice into squares and serve while still warm for the best texture and flavor.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You get all the cozy cinnamon roll vibes in about an hour, start to finish
  • The swirl technique is foolproof, even if youre convinced you have zero artistic skills
  • That glaze turns everything into bakery-level perfection with zero effort
02 -
  • Resist the urge to over-swirl, or youll lose those beautiful distinct ribbons of cinnamon
  • The glaze sets quickly, so pour it while the cake is still warm for that perfect spreadable consistency
03 -
  • Room temperature ingredients make a huge difference in how smooth your batter becomes
  • The toothpick test is your friend, but also trust your nose, when it smells like cinnamon heaven, its probably done

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